Are you a nature lover? Are you a wildlife enthusiast? Then, you should certainly visit the best wildlife national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India. Thus, you can experience a best-in-class wildlife safari and experience nature closely.
Nature teaches us many things. However, one can learn it in the best way by experiencing things as they are. Witnessing animals and birds in their natural habitat offers a unique experience.
Are you a wildlife photographer? Then, you will get scopes to capture some unforgettable moments during your journey. Moreover, you could get to explore some endangered species as well. So, discovering wildlife in national parks will give you many insights into life.
So, are you excited to know about the top 15 wildlife national parks in India? Then, let’s start the discussion.
List of Top 15 Famous Wildlife National Parks in India:
1. Kanha National Park
The Kanha Kisli National Park is one of the best wildlife national parks in our country. It is among the key homes of the world-renowned Royal Bengal Tiger. Moreover, the Kanha National Park is also famous for housing Barasingha or swamp deer.
Exploration of Kanha Reserve will give you insights into the rich habitat of wild animals. You can opt for a jeep safari or elephant safari to discover all the species available here. As a result, you could have closer insights into wildlife. Besides, it will also give you opportunities to take some memorable images with your camera.
In short, the Kanha National Park acts as a haven for wild creatures. They can lead a peaceful life in their natural habitat. The ‘Jewel Of Kanha’ is the swamp deer. Witnessing these deer will create some memorable experiences for you. Besides, the tiger tour is also a grand option for nature enthusiasts.
- Best season to visit: October to June
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Jabalpur, about 175 kilometers away. The park is well-connected by road from Jabalpur, Nagpur, and Raipur.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 1,500 per person per day for foreigners and INR 100 per person per day for Indians.
- Famous For: Known for its diverse wildlife, including tigers, leopards, and barasingha deer. It inspired Rudyard Kipling’s “The Jungle Book.”
More Information
The Kanha Kisli National Park has different safari timings at different times. From 16th October to 15th February, it is Sunrise to 11:00 AM in the morning and 02:00 PM to Sunset in the afternoon. From 16th February to 15th April, it is Sunrise to 11:00 AM and 03 PM to Sunset.
From 16th April to 30th June, it is Sunrise to 10:00 AM and 03:30 PM to Sunset. The afternoon shift of Jeep Safari remains closed every Wednesday for tourists. Moreover, both shifts remain close to the Holi festival (March). The entry fee in Kanha National Park for Indians is Rs. 1530 and for foreigners is Rs. 3060.
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2. Gir Forest National Park
The Gir Forest National Park is located in Junagarh, Gujarat. Did you know only this place house Asiatic Lions around the globe? The whole forest area of this national park is deciduous as well as dry. Such an environment offers a perfect habitat for Asiatic Lions.
The new statistics of 2015 declare the whole Saurashtra Region houses 523 Lions. Also, the locality is home to over 300 Leopards. Moreover, the Gir Forest National Park houses two varied species of deer. The place also has Chowsingha, which is the only four-horned antelope in the world. Many smaller carnivores are also present in this national park. Some of them include the striped Hyena, Indian Fox, and Jackal.
- Best season to visit: December to March
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Diu Airport, approximately 110 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Junagadh and Veraval.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 800 per person for foreigners and INR 100 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Home to the Asiatic lion, Gir Forest is the only place outside Africa where these lions are found.
More Information
The safari timings of the Gir Forest National Park are from 6:45 AM – 9:45 AM. Other timings are from 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM and from 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. The entry fee is Rs 75. The entry fee for foreign tourists is Rs 100.
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3. Jim Corbett National Park
Which is the oldest national park in our country? The answer is Jim Corbett National Park. It was found to safeguard the jeopardized Bengal tiger. Moreover, the Jim Corbett National Park is popular for discovering Agile Indian Leopard. Exploring Bengal Tiger in this national park is a unique experience in itself.
The Jim Corbett National Park started its journey in 1936 as Hailey National Park. Not only the oldest but it is also the most reputed National Park in the country.
The area of this renowned tourist spot spans more than 520 square kilometers. The whole region houses hills, grasslands, swampy depressions, a vast lake, etc.
It is one of the few tiger reserves in the country, which permits overnight stays. It offers some wonderful lifelong experiences to be cherished. Moreover, wildlife exploration and nature watching are also available here. You can opt for an elephant ride or an open four-wheeler Jeep for the same.
The Jim Corbett National Park is simply a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. It houses tigers as well as endangered species, including Otters, etc.
- Best season to visit: November to June
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Pantnagar Airport, approximately 50 kilometers away. Ramnagar is the nearest railway station, connected to major cities in India.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 1,500 per person per day for foreigners and INR 400 per person per day for Indians.
- Famous For: India’s oldest national park, known for its diverse wildlife, including tigers, elephants, and leopards.
More Information
The safari timings of the Jim Corbett National park are from 6:00 AM – 9.30 AM and 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM. However, safari timings can change, according to the season. The entry fee is INR 200/- for Indians and INR 900/- for foreigners.
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4. Hemis National Park
The Hemis National Park is situated in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh locality. It houses numerous rare mammal species, such as Snow Leopards. Multiple trekking routes are there to arrive in the Hemis National Park. These routes open from mid-June to mid-October. However, the ideal season to discover snow leopards is certainly the late winter season.
This National Park also houses Shapu, the Great Tibetan Sheep, and so on. Besides, the Eurasian brown bear, Asiatic Ibex, red fox, etc are also present here as endangered species.
- Best season to visit: May to September
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Leh Airport, approximately 45 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Leh.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 400 per person for foreigners and INR 20 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Home to the snow leopard, Hemis National Park is known for its high-altitude wildlife.
More Information
The entry fee for Indians is INR 20 per person. It is INR 100 per person for foreigners. Visitors are permitted to visit the spot from morning 9 am to the evening at 5 pm.
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5. Namdapha National Park
Which one is the largest national park in our country in terms of area? The answer is Namdapha National Park. It is also the biggest protected area in entire Northeast India based on area. It is situated in Arunachal Pradesh.
Only the Namdapha National Park houses four big cat species in the entire country. They include Red Giant Flying Squirrel, Bengal Tigers, Indian common leopards, and snow leopards.
- Best season to visit: October to April
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Dibrugarh Airport, approximately 160 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Miao.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 1,000 per person for foreigners and INR 50 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Known for its diverse flora and fauna, including the rare Hoolock gibbon and clouded leopard.
More Information
The entry fee is INR 50 per person for Indians and INR 350 per person for foreigners. The open time is from 10 am to 8:30 pm.
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6. Nagarhole National Park
In short, the Nagarhole National Park is among the “Project Tiger” tiger reserves in the country. The Nagarhole National Park is a segment of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
It is situated in Mysore, Karnataka. Visit this place and you could get to explore various wild animals to their natural habitats. Some of these animals include four-horned antelopes, elephants, etc.
- Best season to visit: October to May
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Mysore Airport, approximately 96 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Mysore and Bangalore.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 300 per person for foreigners and INR 150 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Rich in wildlife, Nagarhole National Park is known for its tiger and elephant populations.
More Information
The Jeep safari timings are from 5:30 am to 10:00 am as well as from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The entry fee is 150 INR for Indians and 1500 INR for foreigners.
7. Bandipur National Park
The Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) is a segment of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. This place is among the wild parks in the country to support numerous endangered wild animals. It includes four-horned antelopes, Indian wild dogs, and so on.
- Best season to visit: October to March
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Mysore Airport, approximately 80 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Mysore and Bangalore.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 300 per person for foreigners and INR 150 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Known for its tiger and elephant populations, Bandipur National Park is a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
More Information
The entry fees are Rs. 300.0 per person for Indians. It is Rs. 1100 per person for foreigners. The fee includes the safari charges as well. The Jeep safari timings are from 6:00 am to 9:00 am as well as from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
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8. Mudumalai National Park
In a nutshell, Mudumalai National Park is a major wildlife habitat, nestled in the tri-junction. It is the place, where three states meet and they are Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
The Mudumalai National Park houses various vulnerable and endangered species of birds and animals. Some critically endangered bird species present here are the long-billed vultures and Indian White-rumped vultures.
- Best season to visit: April to June and September to October
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Coimbatore Airport, approximately 160 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Ooty and Mysore.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 300 per person for foreigners and INR 15 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Home to a variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, and elephants.
More Information
The Mudumalai National Park is open from 7 am to 9 am and from 3 pm to 6 pm every day. The entry fee is Rs. 15.0 per person.
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9. Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park houses the highest density of tigers living in protected areas in India and also in the world. It is also home to many wild water buffaloes, Indian elephants, wild cats, and swamp deer.
Kaziranga National Park is located in Assam. This place houses Indian one-horned rhinoceroses in the largest population in the globe.
- Best season to visit: November to April
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Jorhat Airport, approximately 97 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Jorhat and Guwahati.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 1,000 per person for foreigners and INR 100 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Famous for its population of Indian rhinoceroses, Kaziranga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
More Information
The entry fee is 100 rupees per person for Indians. It is 650 rupees per person for foreigners. The entry timings are from 07:30 AM to 9:30 AM as well as from 01:30 PM to 2:45 PM.
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10. Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore National Park is popular for its great tiger population. It is also among the Project Tiger reserves in our country. Located in Rajasthan, Ranthambore National Park is a perfect spot for wildlife photographers. Nature lovers should also visit this place.
- Best season to visit: November to April
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Jaipur Airport, approximately 160 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Sawai Madhopur.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 1,000 per person for foreigners and INR 100 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Known for its tiger population, Ranthambore National Park is one of the best places in India to spot tigers in the wild.
More Information
Different seasons have different safari timings in Ranthambore National Park. For instance, it is from 6.30 AM to 10.00 AM and 2.30 PM to 6.00 PM from 1st October to 31st October.
The entry fees are Rs. 562.0 per person Indian (Canter) and 799.0 per person Indian (Gypsy). Moreover, it is 1302.0 per person Foreigner (Canter) and 1539.0 per person Foreigner (Gypsy).
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11. Tadoba National Park
The Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project is one of the popular sanctuaries in Maharashtra. It houses the world-renowned Royal Bengal Tigers. It is also the oldest and biggest National Park in Maharashtra.
The tiger reserve sprawls across 1,727 Sq.km. The Tadoba National Park started its journey in 1955. The Tadoba Tiger Reserve is popular for its flora and fauna.
However, some of the renowned flora ranges of the Tadoba National Park include Dhauda, Teak, Semal, Hald, Beheda, Arjun, etc. Popular species of animals found here include Marsh crocodiles, Spotted Deer, Jungle Cats, etc.
- Best season to visit: March to May
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Nagpur Airport, approximately 140 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Chandrapur.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 1,000 per person for foreigners and INR 100 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Known for its tiger population, Tadoba National Park offers excellent opportunities for tiger sightings.
More Information
The entry fee is Rs. 20.0 per person in the Tadoba National Park. Safari timings are different in different seasons in the Tadoba National Park.
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12. Sundarbans National Park
The Sundarbans National Park is a popular Tiger Reserve. Moreover, it is a Biosphere Reserve with a vast region of mangrove forests. This place is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
Did you know Sundarbans mangrove forests come as a large Bengal tiger reserve? Moreover, this place houses the saltwater crocodile and the apex predator. Plan a trip to West Bengal to visit the Sundarbans National Park.
- Best season to visit: September to March
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Kolkata Airport, approximately 112 kilometers away. The park is accessible by boat from various points in the Sundarbans.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 200 per person for foreigners and INR 15 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Home to the Bengal tiger, Sundarbans National Park is the largest mangrove forest in the world.
More Information
The entry fee for Indians is INR 60/-. It is INR 200/- for foreigners. The boat safari timing is from 8:30 AM to 16:00. No boat is permitted after 6.30 PM inside the Sundarbans National Park.
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13. Bandhavgarh National Park
Bandhavgarh National Park is a renowned national park in Madhya Pradesh. It is among the places to house the largest tiger population density in the country. Bandhavgarh Bengal tigers are renowned around the globe.
The Bandhavgarh National Park is home to a large number of Tigers. However, a noteworthy number of Deer and Leopards are also found here. One of the most popular attractions of this place is the White Tigers.
- Best season to visit: October to June
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Jabalpur Airport, approximately 164 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Jabalpur and Umaria.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 1,500 per person per day for foreigners and INR 400 per person per day for Indians.
- Famous For: Known for its high density of tigers, Bandhavgarh National Park is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
More Information
The entry fee is Rs. 2200.0 per person for Indians and 4300.0 per person for foreign tourists. It is with a 6 pax Guide and vehicle in each case. The safari timings are different in different seasons. For instance, from 15 Oct to 15 Feb, it is from 07:00 – 10:30 in the morning and 14:00 – 17:30 in the evening.
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14. Simlipal National Park
Are you planning a trip to Odisha? Then, you should not miss visiting the Simlipal National Park. It houses Royal Bengal Tigers, wild elephants, Chausingha, and Indian Bison.
The Simlipal National Park is rich with incredible scenic views. Experiencing wildlife creatures here makes some unforgettable experiences. This place offers a whole ecosystem regarding human, floral, and faunal habitats. You will explore beautiful rivers, plateaus, lush forests, meadows, and waterfalls here.
The Mugger Crocodile Scheme was started here in 1979. It houses the highest population of tigers. Moreover, barking deer, hill mynah, Sambar, and elephants, are also there.
The Simlipal National Park is also home to over 300 bird species. Besides, popular trees like Simulare and Sal are also present here. In short, Simlipal National Park is a blissful experience to explore.
- Best season to visit: November to June
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar Airport, approximately 270 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Baripada.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 100 per person for foreigners and INR 20 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Home to a variety of wildlife, including tigers, elephants, and leopards.
More Information
The entry fee is INR 40/- for Indians, INR 1000/- for foreigners, and INR 20/- for students. The best time to visit Simlipal National Park is from October to May.
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15. Velavadar National Park
Velavadar National Park is currently called Blackbuck National Park. If you are on your Gujarat tour, then pay a visit to this place. Some popular species of the Velavadar National Park are Jungle Cats, Wolves, and Hyenas.
The Velavadar Blackbuck National Park houses the highest surviving blackbuck population. Moreover, nilgai, fox, jungle cat, the wolf also reside there. You can also explore white and painted storks, pelicans, etc in this national park.
- Best season to visit: October to March
- How to get there: The nearest airport is Bhavnagar Airport, approximately 42 kilometers away. The park is accessible by road from Bhavnagar.
- Price: The entry fee is approximately INR 350 per person for foreigners and INR 75 per person for Indians.
- Famous For: Known for its population of blackbucks, Velavadar National Park is a popular destination for wildlife enthusiasts.
More Information
The entry fee is Rs. 30.0 for Indians and Rs. 100.0 for foreigners. The vehicle entry fee is Rs. 35.0. The best time to visit the Velavadar National Park is from December to March.
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Wrapping Up
I hope you are now excited to explore the wildlife national parks in India. You will get to experience nature in the truest form. Moreover, you will discover various species in their natural habitat.
So, what are you waiting for? Start your journey today!
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